BAYONNE –A three-year-old boy seen wandering in the city’s shopping district was taken into custody by police until his mother could be located about two and a half hours later, police said.

Officers were sent to the 51st Street and Broadway location on July 2 at 3:25 p.m. after receiving a call from an area resident that a young child was walking around by himself, according to Lt. Janine Foy, a department spokeswoman.

Upon arrival, officers spoke to the child and learned his first name. However, the young boy could not tell the police his last name, where he lived, or where his parents were, Foy said.

While officers were canvassing the neighborhood for his parent or guardian, an ambulance was called to check his health, and the child was medically cleared.

Because officers could not find a guardian through their investigation, the child was taken to police headquarters. The Division of Child Protection and Permanency was notified and they responded to headquarters as well, according to police.

At that point, police “initiated a community alert using the reverse 911 system,” Foy said. “They sent a message with a description of the clothes the child was wearing and where he was found.”

“She was placed under arrest for endangering the welfare of a minor, two counts of that, because there was also an 8 year old home at the time with the 3 year old when he left the residence,” Foy said.

The mother had allegedly been sleeping at the family’s Broadway residence when the three year old apparently snuck out, according to Foy.

The DCPP gave temporary custody of the children to their aunt, Foy said.